Circuit Judge Terry Lewis on Friday ruled that the Florida Legislature must draw up new congressional districts by Aug. 15. Lewis said that he will then order a special election later this year for those new districts.

THEM TO YOU BOTH ON-AIR AND ON OUR WEBSITE WESH.COM. FLORIDA COULD ONCE AGAIN BE IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT OVER ELECTION CONTROVERSY. TODAY A JUDGE RULED THAT A SPECIAL ELECTION SHOULD BE HELD TO ELECT SOME OR ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS STATE-WIDE. THAT COULD MEAN YOUR VOTE CAST IN THIS MONTH'S PRIMARY WILL NOT COUNT. WESH 2 POLITICAL REPORTER GREG FOX IS HERE WITH US TO EXPLAIN. WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO FIGURE THIS ALL OUT. AND THE SMART MONEY IS ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENTS FILING AN APPEAL OF THE JUDGE'S RULING SO THAT COULD DELAY A FIX TO THIS PROBLEM EVEN MORE. HERE IS WHAT VOTERS REALLY NEED TO KNOW. IF YOU HAVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, IF YOU PLAN TO VOTE EARLY, CONTINUE TO DO SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE RACES FOR CONGRESS. MAYBE YOU HAVE ALREADY CAST AB SEN TEEN BALLOTS IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE THAT'S INCLUDE REPUBLICANS DAN WEBSTER OR JOHN MICA OR THE CONTEST INVOLVING DEMOCRATS CORRINE BROWN AND ALAN GRAYSON. THOSE VOTES MAY NOT COUNT. THE JUDGE HAS BEEN PRESIDING OVER THE TWO YEAR LEGAL BATTLE IN WHICH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CLAIMED REPUBLICAN LAW ENFORCEMENTS ILLEGALLY REDREW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS TO BENEFIT MOSTLY REPUBLICANS. LEWIS AGREED IN HIS RULING LAST MONTH. NOW HE HAS ISSUED A NEW RULING ABRUPTLY JARRING ELECTIONS ACROSS THE STATE. HE'S ORDERING THE LEGISLATURE TO REDRAW THE MAP FOR SOME OR ALL 27 CONGRESSIONAL RACES AND SCHEDULE A SPECIAL ELECTION THIS YEAR. WE THINK THIS IS A VICTORY FOR THE VOTERS OF FLORIDA. THE LEAGUE'S MICHELLE LEVY SAYS THE JUDGE UNDERSTOOD THAT ANY CONGRESSIONAL RACE UNDER ILLEGALLY DRAWN MAPS WOULD HAVE BEEN WRONG. 2,010,900,000 VOTERS VOTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD FAIR VICTORIES. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. SO WE'RE REALLY PLEASE WITH THE JUDGE'S DECISION. THE ORDER COULD EFFECTIVELY INVALIDATE ALL VOTES CAST IN CONGRESSIONAL RACES BUT ELECTION SUPERVISORS URGE VOTERS TO CONTINUE TO VOTE UNTIL OTHERWISE DIRECTED AT LEAST FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHER RACES ON THE BALLOT. YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO SEND IN AND LET US ON THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION SIDE DEAL WITH ANY COURT ORDER AS TO WHAT HAPPENS. GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE THEM PUT THEM IN THE MAIL AND MAKE SURE YOU SIGN THEM AND SEND THEM BACK. THE JUDGE GAVE LAWMAKERS UNTIL AUGUST 15TH TO REDRAW THE MAP. THE SAME DEADLINE APPLIES TO ELECTIONS OFFICIALS TO COME ONE A SPECIAL ELECTION DATE. PARTIES ON BOTH SIDES CAN FILE OBJECTIONS UNTIL AUGUST 18TH AND IF NECESSARY ORAL ARGUMENTS WILL BE SCHEDULED ON AUGUST 20TH. RIGHT NOW REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN